An ectopic pregnancy is something that plays on the mind of all women when they find out they are expecting a baby. An ectopic pregnancy is when the egg fertilizes and then implants outside of the womb – usually in the fallopian tubes. The ectopic pregnancy symptoms may not show up immediately and if left untreated, it can be fatal for the mother.
When Will the Symptoms Show?
The ectopic pregnancy symptoms usually show up between weeks four and 10 of a pregnancy. Generally speaking, the earlier the problem is found, the easier and less invasive the treatment is. If left to week 10, there are chances that the mother will lose her fallopian tube due to the damage of the growing embryo. There are times that the symptoms can show up earlier than week four – the week of the missed period.
Why Do Ectopic Pregnancies Occur?
There are a number of reasons why an ectopic pregnancy can occur. Sometimes, and most often, it is due to some damage to the fallopian tube. The egg will have been blocked from the womb and so it implants in the tube. There are many reasons why the damage may have occurred. Sometimes it may be due to a previous ectopic pregnancy and other times it may be because there have been cysts in the tube.
Any woman is at risk of showing ectopic pregnancy symptoms but there are some who are more likely than others. The most common high risk patient is someone who has have a pelvic inflammatory disease, especially those who have suffered from Chlamydia. This will scar the tubes. The PID is the reason for about 50 percent of ectopic pregnancies. Women who have had abdominal surgeries or c-sections are also at risk of one of these pregnancies and it is worth looking out for the symptoms.
Women who have gotten pregnant through IVF treatment should also be on the lookout for ectopic pregnancy symptoms. In fact, because these women are at such a high risk, there is usually and early scan to show where the embryo has implanted.
The Dangers of an Ectopic Pregnancy
The ectopic pregnancy symptoms can often be missed and not all women will suffer from them. Some of them are difficult to recognize too – one of the most common is also similar to a threatened miscarriage or the start of a period. Cramping and some bleeding is common during an ectopic pregnancy and is also extremely common during a normal pregnancy.
However, there are times that ectopic pregnancy symptoms are extremely easy to spot. Something that a lot of women will complain about is a pain on one side of the abdomen. This can often be persistent and will be extremely painful – usually getting more painful over time. The pain can spread across the abdomen and even be felt in the shoulder.
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